Staring at him, rage tore through me until my whole body shook. My hands on the bed rail wouldn't stop trembling.
"Disgusting. Vile."
My fists clenched, released, clenched again—and finally, I swung at his face.
He saw it coming. His arm still draped around Charity's neck, he stepped back smoothly.
My palm cut through empty air.
The nausea surged again. I barely made it to the trash can before bile burned its way up my throat.
Charity watched, one hand resting on Brendan's, the other pressed to her mouth as she doubled over laughing.
"See? I told you she's hilarious. A few little words and she's falling apart. Zero composure."
Her voice carried just as Brendan's friends arrived to visit.
They sauntered in with grins, shoving an elaborately wrapped bouquet of lilies into Charity's arms before crowding around her and Brendan.
"What's so funny? You two look way too happy—always keeping your little secrets from us."
"Screw off," Brendan said with a lazy curse, then asked what brought them here.
Their eyes slid toward me. The words came out halting.
"Just... wanted to check in."
"Oh—where's the baby? Boy or girl? You showed us the whole delivery but never told us what you got!"